Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time

Overview

Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time is the 9th installment in the Ratchet & Clank franchise, and the third and last game in the "Future" trilogy. It brings new improvements to the platforming aspects with new gadgets and mechanics, and keeps the combat fresh with new weapons and enemies.

The game features more Clank gameplay than the other games in the series, with his new found time manipulation abilities. Also, Captain Qwark also gets more screen time, due to his absence from Quest for Booty.

The end of the trilogy

Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time is the end of the "Future" trilogy, wrapping up the story set in motion by Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction.

Who are they? Find out in R&CF:A Crack in Time

The game answers some of the biggest questions about the franchise such as Ratchet's origins, the Zoni, and what has happened to the Lombax race. The Future storyline is also the first time Ratchet & Clank games have had a story arc going across multiple games.

The story so far...

The first game in the trilogy, Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction, began with the brave duo living peacefully in Metropolis, when they received a message from Captain Qwark saying that he is in trouble. They responded by running to his rescue. They soon realized that the city was being attacked by heavily-armed robotic commandos that work for a evil mastermind Emperor Tachyon. Tachyon wants to kill all the Lombaxes in the universe, and he has tracked down Ratchet who, is the last of the Lombax race. Ratchet and Clank manage to escape from him and fly away into space. Then they go through the galaxy looking for Tachyon who is trying to take over the galaxy.

Along the way, they meet many characters who play important roles throughout the trilogy.
Some of the more important characters are:

Talwyn Apogee - The daughter of a famous explorer who helps Ratchet on his journey.
Captain Slag and Rusty Pete - Two space pirates that want to catch Ratchet
The Smuggler - A mysterious smuggler who provides ratchet with new gadgets and builds weapons.

The heroes eventually learn that Emperor Tachyon is a Cragmite, who are the sworn enemies of the Lombaxes. Ratchet also finds out that Tachyon wants to use the Dimensionator to bring back the Cragmites, who were thrown into another dimension by the Lombaxes. Ratchet eventually manages to defeat Tachyon and stop the Cragmites from taking over the galaxy.

But as Ratchet is busy with his own adventure, Clank meets mysterious creatures called the Zoni, who give Clank control over time and other abilities. Unfortunately, Clank is the only one who can see the Zoni, so Ratchet doesn't believe that they exist. The true intentions of the Zoni are unknown in Tools of Destruction, but at the conclusion of the game, the Zoni kidnap Clank and the game ends with a cliffhanger.

The story is continued in Ratchet & Clank Future: Quest for Booty, the second entry in the trilogy. In Quest for Booty, you're mainly fighting against space pirates alongside Talwyn to find out where the Zoni have taken Clank. At the end of the game, you find out that the Zoni are somehow connected to Dr. Nefarious, the villain of Ractchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal, who is back for revenge.

Dr. Nefarious is back for revenge

Plot

In Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time, Ratchet meets another Lombax named Alistair Azimuth; disproving that Ratchet is the last Lombax. General Alister Azimuth was a once-revered Lombax leader, and a friend of Ratchet's father. He also engineered the Court of Azimuth where the final boss battle of Tools of Destruction takes place. The main plot of the game is that Ratchet must save the Zoni from Dr. Nefarious, so that he might get the information he needs to then also save Clank.

Gameplay

Time Control!!!

The gameplay is still identical to the previous games in the series, with minor tweaks. The big new feature of this game is the Hover Boots. These boots let Ratchet hover through the air and speed through the levels faster. They will also be included in platforming puzzles as a substitute for the absent Clank. You'll still be Hunting Gold bolts and other secrets hidden throughout the game.

The game will also include the Clank gameplay from previous games, but with a new twist. Clank now has a strange staff that lets him create temporal copies of himself and control time.

Weapons

You can't have a Ratchet & Clank game without cool weapons, so here are some of the weapons that will be in Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time:

Omni-Wrench

Omni-Wrench - Ratchet's standard melee weapon. Also equipped with the Kinetic Tether Mod, allowing him to manipulate objects in the environment.

The Cryo-mine Glove

Cryo-Mine Glove - A glove that can throw out mines that seek out enemies and freeze them, allowing Ratchet to walk up and shatter them with his wrench.

Sonic Eruptor

Sonic Eruptor - This odd weapon is a creature that has been turned into a weapon. The creature emits a powerful mating call that sends a blast wave of sound at your enemies. There is a timing element to firing the gun, since it doesn't use ammo. There is a meter on screen and you have to press the button when the meter hits the highest point for maximum damage

Buzz Blades

Buzz Blades - Returning from Tools of Destruction, this weapons throws out spinning razor sharp blades that can bounce off walls.

The Negotiator

The Negotiator - This is a standard Missile launcher that is returning from Tools of Destruction

The Plasma Striker

Plasma Striker - a plasma rifle with a scope, and is the first sniper type weapon seen in recent games in the Ratchet & Clank series.

The concept for the weapon

The Spiral of Death

The Spiral Of Death - the winning weapon design by a fan in the Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time weapon contest. It was one of the five finalists given to the public to vote for, for a chance to appear in the game. The weapon works by charging up energy and then releasing it in a spiral around the user, sending enemies flying. It was revealed that the Spiral of Death was the winner at Comic-Con 2009.

This is how you build your constructo pistol

Constructo Pistol - a weapon in the Constructo line of weapons which allow the user to fully customize their gun with mods, colors, shot type and really just about everything about the weapon. The pistol is the one that actually looks like a gun, it can shoot single shots, it can rapid fire, or it can shoot out explosives. You also have 36 different types of bullets the gun can use which allow you to make the gun you always dreamed of.

This is how you build your Constructo Bomb

Constructo Bomb Glove - The second in the Constructo line of weapons, The Constructo Bomb Glove lets you alter the classic Bomb Glove to fit your everyday needs. You can choose from a large variety of different bombs to throw starting from ones that explode into more bombs and ending with bombs that freeze your enemies.

Other Equipment

Ratchet now has Holo-Armor, which allows him to turn off his armor when he doesn't need it. Thus eliminating the problem many fans had with previous games, in that high end armor sets would cover Ratchet's face, making him look like a robot.

Another new gadget that he has is the OmniSoaker, which absorbs things from the environment and shoots it out again. For example, he can absorb nectar from plants, and use it to distract deadly bugs.

You can also receive discounts on some of the weapons from Tools Of Destruction in A Crack in Time if you have a save from Tools of Destruction.

Levels

The pause menu..

Krell Canyon - The Agorians have brought in heavy artillery. Work with General Azimuth to destroy the Hydra Tanks and save the Vullard settlement! -The description of on of the missions in the level.

Axiom City

Axiom City - Home of the Terachnoids, Ratchet journeys here to search for more information regarding Clank.

The Great Clock

The Great Clock - Located directly in the center of the galaxy (give or take 50 feet), the Great Clock is a mysterious place and also the location where Dr. Nefarious is holding Clank. The place itself controls the flow of time and is drastically important to the story..

Pre-order Bonuses

Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time had an extensive amount pre-order bonuses. Before the game's launch, you could find these items at retailers like Amazon.com, Best Buy, Game Crazy, GameStop, and other participating retailers.

the Discovery Package

Discovery Package

Explore the Insomniac Moon, a special level that resembles the layout of the Insomniac Games’ offices!
Scattered through this museum-like level, you will discover a moon’s worth of extra content that didn’t quite make it into the game.

the Power Package

Power Package

The Power package includes an exclusive weapon skin for one of Ratchet’s weapons. You will also start the game with extra hit points, and Ratchet’s brand new Cryo-Mine Glove, a weapon that freezes enemies!

the Bolt Package

Bolt Package

The thrifty gamer will find lots to love in this exclusive Bolt Package! Start the game with two of Ratchet’s most bolt-centric power-ups; the Bolt Magnetizer and Box Basher, and you will discover your galactic bank account has already been loaded with 5,000 bolts when you start the game.

the Space Package

Space Package

The Space Package offers an exclusive hot-rod skin for Ratchet’s ship, the Aphelion. You also will start with 5,000 bolts as well as an exclusive Ratchet & Clank PlayStation Home avatar skin!

Collector's Edition

Collector's Edition (PAL exclusive)

A Collector's Edition of Ratchet and Clank: A Crack in Time is available only in Europe, and contains:

A 3D lenticular cover - Something of a hologram, where the cover image appears to have depth as you look at it from side to side.
An art book with concept art from the game.
A PSN voucher with a code to unlock the Insomniac Moon level, equivalent to the Discovery pre-order package.

A Crack in Time Patch 1.20

A number of people had encountered a bug when finishing the game that essentially corrupted the game's save file. The bug essentially happened when players were given the option to continue playing the game as it is or go into challenge mode to earn more bolts,and upgrades. The save would load and the game would freeze after a short while. The patch also addresses an issue some encountered with the Smuggler while attempting to get the Good Samaritan trophy. If you are one of the affected and still have the corrupted file, load it and press the following: Up, Up, Down, Down, L3, square, circle, square, circle, R3. The game will restart in challenge mode with all earned bolts, weapons, and upgrades, and you should be able to play through your second time with no real issues.

Soundtrack

Disc One

1.	"A Crack in Time (Theme)"
2.	"Unused Preview Theme"
3.	"Main Menu"
4.	"The Caretaker's Awakening"
5.	"Chase in The Clock"
6.	"Zolar Forest"
7.	"Weapon Upgraded!"
8.	"Trouble with the Fongoids"
9.	"The Missing Children"
10.	"Minor Mission Complete"
11.	"Vongoid Village Music"
12.	"Vorselon's Invasion"
13.	"Infiltrating Vorselon's Ship"
14.	"Into The Ship"
15.	"Fighting The Troops"
16.	"Vorselon Confrontation"
17.	"Polaris Classical; Space Wander 1"
18.	"Fixing The Great Clock"
19.	"Clank's Subconscious"
20.	"The Hypersonic Brainwave Scrambler"
21.	"Polaris Classical; Space Wander 2"
22.	"Molonoth Fields"
23.	"Major Mission Complete"
24.	"Chase Down Azimuth"
25.	"The General's Pupil"
26.	"Axiom City"
27.	"Battle in Neurox Plaza"
28.	"Bypass the Security System"
29.	"General Mission Complete"
30.	"The VX-99"
31.	"Fixing Anomalies"
32.	"Please Don't Go"
33.	"Tetramite Swarm"
34.	"The Agorian Riders"
35.	"The Hydra Tanks"
36.	"Agorian Air Support"
37.	"The Freed Colony"
38.	"The Consequences of Time"
39.	"Pride of The Battleplex"
40.	"My Blaster Runs Hot: The Game"
41.	"My Blaster Runs Hot - Score Tally"
42.	"The Bronze Tournament 1"
43.	"The War Grok"
44.	"The Silver Tournament"
45.	"The Elite Hydra Tank"
46.	"The Gold Tournament"
47.	"Battleplex Victory"

Disc 2

48.	"Infiltrating Tombli Outpost"
49.	"The Dead Planet"
50.	"Freeing the Fongoids"
51.	"A Peaceful Village"
52.	"Inside The Outpost"
53.	"The Lombaxes Escape"
54.	"Entering The Orvus Chamber"
55.	"The Outer Islands"
56.	"Dance with The Valkyries"
57.	"Rotator Rings Death Trap"
58.	"Battery Bot Drop Death Trap"
59.	"Duel with Cassiopeia"
60.	"The Nafarious Space Station"
61.	"Meeting 'Shanon'"
62.	"To a Wonderful Smell"
63.	"They Didn't Fall For It"
64.	"The Battle for Gimlick Valley"
65.	"Riding The Morklon Vines"
66.	"Confronting Commander Argos"
67.	"The Battle for Time"
68.	"The End?"
69.	"No More Than Six Minutues"
70.	"Heroes Collide"
71.	"The Clock Breaks"
72.	"Azimuth's Remorse"
73.	"The Last Lombax"
74.	"A Crack in Time (Credits)"

Disc 3 ( Groovitron Groove Tunes )

1.	"Disco Napoli"
2.	"Electro Boost"
3.	"Flying to Space"
4.	"Flying to Space (Vocals)"
5.	"Restless Dancer"
6.	"Teknokrat"
7.	"Chain Free"
8.	"Checkered Flag"
9.	"Girl Rules"
10.	"Girl Rules (Vocals)"
11.	"Metal Future"

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Game Name	Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time
Platform(s)	PlayStation 3
Publisher(s)	Sony Computer Entertainment America Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Sony Computer Entertainment Australia Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated
Developer(s)	Insomniac Games
Genres	Add a new genre Platformer Shooter Action-Adventure
Themes	Add a new theme Sci-Fi Comedy
Original US Release	Oct. 27, 2009 need a fuzzy date?
Original US Release	December 2009 know the real date?
Aliases	Ratchet and Clank: Clock Blockers
CERO	CERO: A
ESRB	ESRB: E10+
PEGI	PEGI: 7+

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